Wringer



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E. E. FOSTER April 17, 1951 WRINGER 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 21, 1944 ECZIWL'W E EwZe/ I Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES harem OFFICE WRINGER Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex.

Application September 21, 1944, Serial No. 555,136

21 Claims. (Cl. (as-ass) This invention relates to wringers which are particularly adaptable for squeezing laundered and washed articles of all types and materials.

In its broad aspect the invention relates to a type of wringer having squeezing rolls which are arranged and operate vertically instead of horizontally and are relatively movable toward and away from each other. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a wringer having vertically directed cooperating rolls which are adapt- I A further object of the invention resides in, the

provision of a flexible roll in which a plurality of elastic members are mounted to force the periphery of the flexible roll against or toward the other roll. I

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of knee-action rollers'or wheels which latter roll on a flexible rubber sleeve so that this rubber sleeve will yield at such sections relative to other sections where the material to be squeezed is thicker thereby achieving a more uniformly distributed pressure. In conventional type rollers the latter tend to press too hard on the thickest portions of the materials, while the thinner portions along the edges, for instance, reabsorb and retain the'water which has been squeezed out of the thick central portion.

Thus a further object of the invention resides in the knee-action system in one of the rolls in order to squeeze the water out of the thin portions of the materials to be squeezed without applying excessive pressure on the thick portions.

Another aim of the invention resides in the specific structure of the squeezing rolls, both of which have flexible sleeves and of which one sleeve is driven or rotated by its axial internal sleeve and the other is driven or rotated by the firstmenticned sleeve. It is also an object of the invention to provide a wringer having a continuously rotating sleeve or member against which a flexible sleeve of one roll which is loosely mounted thereon is pressed or forced by the other sleeve or roll. I

The invention also aims to provide a safety device or lever which is operative from any angle to immediately separate the rolls relative to each other. The lever is also directed vertically and can be contacted for movement in any direction.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the 'wringer,

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the rolls in section,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of 2 showing material being squeezed between; the rolls,

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4 -4 of Fig. 2 ,Fig. 5 a plan view with the rolls in open position,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the wringer showing the rolls in a position to apply pressure,

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the wringer, and

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the wringer.

The wringer according to this invention may be provided and secured on a table or motor, not shown, or any other frame, device or fixture such as a washing machine where it may be desired to operate and mount the wringer. As shown a tubular post I fits over a vertical drive shaft post of a washing machine for instance, and is provided with an index finger 2. Fixed directly to the post I is a frame or base member 3, which is preferably of triangularshape, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. Concentric with the tubular member I is a vertical stationary tube 4' having two sleeve bearings 5 which are pressed onto this tube member 4, one at the lower end and one near the center part, Fig. 3. A rotating metal sleeve or tube Shears on the bearings 5 and is driven by means of a square hole (not shown) in its upper end by a torque shaft 7. The lower end of the torque shaft 1 is provided with an enlarged head, which includes a slot section 8, into which the drive shaft from the washing machine fits. The wringer is provided with ,a driving roll El and a larger driven roll 58, the latter of which is movable in a horizontal three tion relative to roll 5?. A rubber sleeve or tube s of roll 5'5, preferably having a convex rubber end 5%, fits loosely about the tube ii. The rubber sleeve 2 rests on a table IE] and tends to remain stationary, the tube 8 and the torque shaft 1 revolving, except when pressure is applied through a second and larger roll, at which time the rubber sleeve revolves counter-clockwise, as shown in Figure 2. A second rubber sleeve II of roll 58 is large enough to enclose a knee-action system and is also provided with an end section or closure 59 to prevent water from entering the sleeve and also for better appearance. Inside the sleeve II, is a stationary vertical tube member 12, identical with the tube member 1. The tube i2 is fixed directly to the base member 3 and is strong enough to resist the pressure applied by a plurality of knee-action rollers 32. A movable tube member I3 telescopes over the stationary tube I2 and is connected to a smaller tubular member I4 at the upper end by means of a pin i5 and a spacer sleeve I6, shown-in Fig. 3. The tubular member I3 is provided with arms I! at each end and also several others, each between two kneeaction rolls 32. A small shaft IS, on which kneeaction fingers pivot, is supported by means of the arms I1 which are stamped out of the tube I3 before the tube is rolled. The torque tube I4 extends below the end of the stationary tube l2 and is provided with a cam plate member I9. The cam member I9 is provided with a latch which cooperates with a roller 28 and a push link 2|, the latter being pivoted at 22 to a bell crank member 23, pivoted to the frame member 3, by means of a pin 24. The bell crank member 23 extends to the edge of the table I!) through the slot 25, shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with a ball handle 26. This handle 26 is operated to apply pressure between the rolls 51 and 58. The cam plate I3, which is fixed directly to the torque tube I4 is also provided with an arm section which includes a pin 21 connected with a tension link 28 which operates through a pin 29, an idle lever or link 38, the latter being loosely mounted on the pin 24.

The bell crank member 23 is provided with a projection stop 3!, which abuts the idle link 38, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Each of the small hard rollers 32 is provided with a suitable bearing 33 and rotates on a pin 3 which is mounted between the sides of a U-shaped leg 35. This U-shaped stamped leg member 35 is provided with a web section 38 and a web section 3'1, Fig. 2, and it also has a sleeve member 38 pressed therein at the time a double torsion spring 39 is preloaded and trapped between the webs 38 and 3! and the sleeve 38.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the open ends of the double torsion spring 39 abut against the web section 33 of the leg member 35, while the closed end abuts against the tubular member I3. As the knee-action rollers 32 react on the thickness of the material or clothes 33 to be squeezed the open ends of the double torsion spring 39, carried by the web 36, move about the pivot point I8 and the limit stop 37 moves away from the closed end section of the torsion spring.

In order to release the pressure between the rolls, it is necessary to touch and move a universally pivoted release bar 40 whereby the large roll 58 will pivot clock-wise about the stationary tube I2 to the position shown in Fig. 5, The release bar 40 is provided with a circular plate 4| at its lower end and is urged and held upward against the bottom of the table member I3 by means of a compression spring 42, which lifts against a cupped member 43 which is pinned to the release bar 48. When the bar 43 is moved in any direction, the central part of the disc 4i moves downward against a ball section 44 on the end of a bell crank lever 45 pivoted to the frame member 3 at the point 45. A lower arm 47 of the bell crank 45 is provided with a push link 4 58, which operates a lever 49 pivoted at the point 59. The push link 38 causes the lever 49 to push the roller 29 off the latch section of the cam plate 19 and allows the entire knee-action assembly, which i mounted on the tubular sleeve I3, to revolve about the stationary tube I2 to the position shown in Fig. 5. Since the double torsion springs 33 were preloaded and trapped by means of the limit stops on the leg member 35, the latch release will open quickly with very little noise. It may remain in its open position shown in Fig. 5, or rebound slightly.

In order to re-set the roll 58 and apply pressure, it is necessary to move the re-set knob 26 to the position shown in Fig. 6, whereby the roller 23 will snap into the latch on the plate I9 at the time the large roll 58 has almost touched the smaller roll 57. Then the knob 26 is moved back to the position shown in Fig. 2, which will cause the push link 2| to further revolve the plate I9 and the torque tube I l, together with the tube member i 3, and apply pressure between the rolls. The limit stop 3? may move slightly away from as spring 33, but most of this initial pressure will be taken up in the give in the rubber sleeves II and 9.

A small raised section 5i is provided in the table at the point where the rolls come together, as shown in Fig. 2. This portion 5| of the table is intended to keep the tail end of the clothes slightly above the table. A groove 52 is also provided in the table I0 to turn back any water that gets beyond the rolls. An upright shield 53 is provided to turn the clothes back towards a tub or other container (not shown) as the clothes come out of the rolls.

In order to guide the materials to be squeeze into the rolls 5'! and 53 a tapered cone-shaped guide member 54 is mounted on the table I8 by suitable rivets and the like, Fig. 4, this member having an elongated configuration as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. The member 54 may be formed from light weight sheet metal and it may be snapped onto the table by means of buttonhole catches 55a or by other similar device. The guide member 54 could also be made integral with the table I8 but a removable member is preferred for cleaning purposes. The guide member 54 not only guides the clothes as they are drawn around this member and into the rolls but also it keeps the clothes from working down to the bottom of the rolls. After one article has been started through the rolls the next articles can be lapped across the end of the preceding article which will be drawn into the rolls without the necessity of the operator having to place the fingers near the rolls themselves.

The handle 26, which operates in the slotted section 25 of the table I0, is held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means'of a suitable notch (not shown) in the upper side of the slot in order to maintain the toggle member, composed of the link 2| and the bell crank 23 in a straight line position. Thus it is necessary to press the knob 28 downwardly a slight distance to release it from this latch, A tension spring 55, Fig. 3, holds the link 2i against the lever 49.

The wringer operates as follows:

The operator takes a position directly in front of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, that is infront of the plane between the rolls 51 and 58, and. slides the article or material to be squeezed around the guide 54 and pushes the leading end between the rolls after which the rolls will pull the material through the rolls with a squeezing action. The material follows a path through the machine as indicated by the arrows and lines fill, Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows, the mate.- rial being deflected by the shield 53.. As the. mate-- rial passes between the rolls the. knee action wheels 32 accommodate/the rubber sleeve H to the varying thickness as indicated in Fig. 3, which will result in the water being squeezed from the material. As shown the material passes over the cone 54, through the rolls and then is deflected' by the shield 53 to the right thereof and finallyover the edge of the table.

If for any reason it is desired to separate the rolls 5! and 58 it is only necessary to move the bar 40 many direction which results in the central part of the disc 4-] moving downward against the ball section 44 on the end of the lever 45. The arm 4 operates the push link 48 which in turn operates the lever 49, the latter causingthe roller to be moved oh the latch section of the cam plate ii) to permit the entire knee action assembly to revolve around the tube [2 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The rolls are thus seproll is driven by said driving roll, said drivenroll comprising a flexible sleeve, and a plurality of arated and since the springs 39 were pre-loaded andare held in such-position by means of the limit stops on the leg member the latch reorder to'reset the roll 58 and apply pressure, the resetting knob 26 is moved to the position of Fig. 6 whereby the roller 25 will snap into the latch on the plate I9 when the roll 58 almost contacts the roll 51. Then the knob 26 is moved back to the position of Fig. 2 which causes the link 2 I to further revolve the plate I 5 and the tube 14 and tube 15 so that pre'ssure is applied be- 1;

tween the rolls.

The rotation of the sleeve 5 which is driven by any suitable motor or other suitable'means causes rotation of sleeve 9 and the latter in turn rotates the rubber sleeve H, the sleeves $3 and H rotating in the directions indicated by the arrows, Fig 2. The water squeezed'from the material runs 01f from the table Hi.

The top of the guide 54 may be adjacent or near the roll 58 but it is preferable to space guide 54 about one-half of an inch or more from the roll 58 in the event the material to be squeezed adheres to the rubber sleeve ll. As a preferred structure the guide 54 has a back edge which extends from the table ill at 6| to the top 62 thereof along the length as seen in Figs. 5 and 6.

The drain channel 52 may extend toward the front of the machine so that the. water which is squeezed from the material will not drain into a container arranged to receive the squeezed material. Thus, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the

lease will open quickly and remain open. In

til

channel 52 may extend a short distance between the guide 54 and the edge of the table.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wringer comprising a horizontal table, a pair of squeezing rolls projecting above the table at right angles to the table, each roll having one end at the table and with the other end free, means for rotating one of said rolls, and means for adjusting the other roll away from and towards the driving roll thereby providing squeezing and open positions of the rolls, said driving roll having a rotating sleeve and a tube loosely fitting on said sleeve whereby when the other roll forces the tube against the sleeve, rotation will be imparted to said tube and the other roll.

2. A wringer comprising a horizontal table, a pair of rolls projecting vertically from the table of which one roll is a driving roll and the other within said other sleeve to permit the latter to accommodate the varying thicknesses of the material to be squeezed.

4. In a wringer, a squeezing device comprising a pair of rolls of which each roll has a flexible sleeve which is loosely fitted for rotation, means in one of said sleeves to rotate said sleeve and the latter in turn rotating the other sleeve, and a plurality of pivotally mounted members mounted within the other sleeve to flex the sleeve to conform to the varying thicknesses of the material to be squeezed.

5. A wringer comprising a pair of vertically disposed squeezing rolls, means for driving one of said rolls, means including a verticall dis posed bar movable in a lateral direction and operatively connected to the other roll to move the other roll to open position away from the driving roll, and means for resettin the movable roll to a position in contact with the driving roll from the open position of the rolls.

6. A wringer comprising a horizontal table, a pairof squeezing rolls projecting above the table at right angles to the table, means for rotating one of said rolls,, means for adjusiing the other rollaway from. and towards the driving roll thereby, providing squeezing and open positions or the rolls, and a cone-shaped guide member mounted on the table in front of and on the material entry side of the rolls.

7. "A wringer comprising a horizontal table, a pair of squeezing rolls projecting abov the table at right angles to the table, means for rotating one of said rolls, means for adjusting the other roll away from and towards the driving roll thereby providing squeezing and open positions of the rolls, a cone-shaped guide member mounted on the table in front of and on the material entry side of the rolls, and a curvedplate mounted on the table on the side opposite the material entry to guide the material from the table.

8. A wringer according to claim 2,- in which each knee-action roller is spring pressed to constantly urge its roller against the flexible sleeve.

9. A wringer according to claim '7, in which the table is provided with a raised section di rectly in front of the squeezing rolls to" maintain the end of the material to be squeezed above the uppersurface of the table.

10. A wringer according to claim 7, in which the guide member is removably mounted on the table and is elongated at the base portion away from the rolls.

11. In a wringer, a squeezing device comprising a pair of rolls of which each roll has a flexible sleeve which is loosel fitted for rotation, means in one of said sleeves to rotate said sleeve and the latter in turn rotating the other sleeve, and a plurality of pivotally mounted and spring pressed rollers in said other sleeve to permit the latter to be distorted with squeezing force to accommodate the varying thicknesses of the mate rial to be squeezed.

13. In a wringer, a squeezing device comprising a pair of rolls each in the form of a flexible sleeve which is loosel fitted for rotation, a continuously rotating shaft for one of the sleeves, a shaft for the other sleeve eccentrically mounted with respect thereto, and means within said other sleeve adjusting said other sleeve eccentrically around its shaft for causing relative movement of the sleeves toward and away from each other to open and close the wringer.

14. A wringer according 'to'clairn 13, in which a horizontally arranged table is provided for the rolls, the latter projecting from the table in a vertical direction.

15. A wringer comprising a horizontal table, a pair of squeezing rolls projecting vertically above the table, a guide member secured on the table in front of the rolls relative to the travel of the material through the rolls and extending vertically above the table, and an upright shield behind the rolls to guide the squeezed material from the rolls and off of the table.

16. A wringer comprisin a horizontal table, a pair of squeezing rolls projecting vertically above the table, a guide member secured on the table in front of the rolls relative to' the travel of the material through the rolls and extending vertically above the table, an upright shield behind the rolls to guide the squeezed material from the rolls and off of the table, and a raised section immediately in front of the rolls and extending above the table to guide the material between the rolls just above the table.

17. A wringer comprising a horizontal table, a pair of squeezing rolls projecting vertically above the table, a guide member secured on the table in front of the rolls relative to the travel of the material through the rolls and extending vertically above the table, an upright shield behind the rolls to guide the squeezed material from the rolls and off of the table, and a rod extending above the table and parallel with the rolls to act as a safety lever to permit separation of the rolls.

18. A wringer according to claim 15, in which the guide member is in the form of a cone shaped sheet metal member with an elongated sloping section extending away from the rolls.

19. A wringer according to claim 15, in which means are provided under the table to laterally move one roll away from the other.

20. In a wringer, a squeezing device comprising a pair of rolls of which one roll is a driving roll and the other is a driven roll provided with a flexible sleeve, and a plurality of sprin pressed rollers mounted within the sleeve of the driven roll to permit the sleeve to accommodate the varying shapes and thickness of the material to be squeezed, each spring-pressed roller having a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the sleeve.

21. In awringer, according to claim 20, in which means are provided to move the sleeve and spring-pressed rollers away from the driving roll to open the wringer.

' EDWIN E. FOSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 804,008 France July 20,1936 

